The School of Library and Information Science is now accepting applications for its Project Increasing Diversity of Librarians (IDOL) Fall 2014 cohort. Applications will be accepted from February 1 - June 1. Project IDOL Fellows will receive full tuition for their MLIS degree, to be completed online within 2 years, as well as the advisory support of individual mentors, and additional funds for books, conference travel and a personal computer. The School encourages applicants from anywhere in North America, as the MLIS degree can be completed entirely online.

Project IDOL is a collaboration between the Wayne State University School of Library and Information Science and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Library Alliance. WSU SLIS and the HBCU Library Alliance have received funding from the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program to increase the diversity of the library profession. In this 3-year project, the two partner organizations will recruit, mentor, and offer an online Master of Library and Information Science degree to 10 students from historically underrepresented groups in order to achieve greater diversity among practicing library professionals. SLIS will provide the education with its online MLIS format and the HBCU library alliance will assist with recruitment and retention through mentorship of the selected students by library professionals with senior level experience and prior mentorship training.

Interested Project IDOL applicants must first be accepted into the WSU MLIS program before being considered for Project IDOL funding. Further details about Project IDOL and full application requirements can be found at http://slis.wayne.edu/diversity/projectidol.php

Questions? Please contact SLIS Academic Services Officer, Matt Fredericks, aj8416@wayne.edu.